“Someone should tell chicken-hawk Rush Limbaugh that the only phonies are those who choose not to serve and then criticize those who do. I served proudly, so did two of my fellow paratroopers in the 82nd Airborne who spoke out and died just weeks ago. Generations of American veterans have worn the uniform with pride and we know it is no contradiction to serve your country and still disagree with the Bush-civilian leadership that mismanaged this war.”
– Rep. Patrick Murphy, Iraq Veteran of the 82nd Airborne where he was awarded the Bronze Star for service
Rep. Frank Pallone: “Yesterday Limbaugh called service members who support a withdrawal from Iraq ‘phony soldiers.’ Is Limbaugh serious? Is a soldier who is honorably serving our naiton in Iraq any less a soldier if he questions what appears to be a never ending war? Last month seven soldiers from the US Army 82nd Airborne Division wrote an op-ed in The New York Times questioning our continued war efforts, but also stating, and I quote, ‘we need not talk about our morale, as committed soldiers weeks will see this mission through.’ Now since publication of that op-ed, two of the soldiers have died. As this op-ed showed, soldiers may question the war, but it does not mean that they’re any less committed to their mission, and now I wonder if Republicans who showed so much outrage towards MoveOn.org yesterday will hold Rush Limbaugh to the same standard — and I wouldn’t hold your breath.”
Rep. Jan Schakowsky: “Or retired General William Odom, the head of the National Security Agency during the Reagan administration, his advice, quote: ‘the sensible policy is not to stay the course in Iraq, it is rapid withdrawal, re-establishing strong relations with our allies… General Odom says that until the US withdraws from Iraq, and admits a strategic error, no such coalition can be formed, thus those who fear leaving a mess are helping make things worse while preventing a new strategic approach with some promise of success. Does Rush Limbaugh really want to look General Odom in the eye and call him a phony? … And while we’re at it, let’s pay attention to the 72% of american troops serving in iraq who also think the US should exit the country within the next year and more than one in four who say the troops should leave immediately according to the Zogby poll. I guess they’re all a bunch of phonies according to Rush Limbaugh.”
“The Rush Limbaugh Show,” September 26, 2007:
LIMBAUGH: “Save the — keep the troops safe” or whatever. I — it’s not possible, intellectually, to follow these people.
CALLER: No, it’s not, and what’s really funny is, they never talk to real soldiers. They like to pull these soldiers that come up out of the blue and talk to the media.
LIMBAUGH: The phony soldiers.
CALLER: The phony soldiers. If you talk to a real soldier, they are proud to serve. They want to be over in Iraq. They understand their sacrifice, and they’re willing to sacrifice for their country.
LIMBAUGH: They joined to be in Iraq. They joined —
CALLER: A lot of them — the new kids, yeah.
LIMBAUGH: Well, you know where you’re going these days, the last four years, if you signed up. The odds are you’re going there or Afghanistan or somewhere.
CALLER: Exactly, sir.